CIA spokesman Todd Ebitz on Tuesday described the new headof the National Clandestine Service as a "talented and effectiveintelligence officer who has had rich substantive andoperational experiences worldwide over the course of his almost30-year Agency career."

The new spy chief, who was an officer in the clandestineunit, is officially undercover and cannot be named.

In choosing this official to take charge of the agency'scovert activities, Brennan avoided giving the job to a woman whohad been serving as the Clandestine Service's acting director.

Her candidacy was questioned by some lawmakers because ofher involvement in an aggressive interrogation program used onterrorism suspects after the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks on theUnited States.

Senate Intelligence Committee Chairwoman Dianne Feinstein, aCalifornia Democrat, expressed reservations to Brennan about thewoman because she had once headed up a CIA "black site" whereharsh interrogation techniques were used. The woman also remainsundercover and cannot be named.

Ebitz, the CIA spokesman, said, "The assertion she was notchosen because of her affiliation with the CT (counterterrorism)mission is absolutely not true."

Feinstein said she was "supportive" of the clandestineservice chief that Brennan has chosen.

In his own Senate confirmation process to be director,Brennan had to overcome the hurdle of his leadership role at theagency when interrogation techniques such as waterboarding - orsimulated drowning, which critics call torture - were beingused. Brennan has said he was not involved in overseeing thatprogram.

The new director of the clandestine service has worked inPakistan, Africa and Latin America and is "well-liked" by hiscolleagues, unlike some of the rumored candidates who were"polarizing," a former intelligence official told Reuters.

Brennan also made two other appointments as he shapes hissenior leadership team.

Meroe Park is the new executive director, the first time aminority has been appointed to the agency's third-highestposition, which is responsible for running the day-to-dayoperations, Ebitz said. Deb Bonk, who held a variety of posts inher 27 years with the agency, will be Brennan's new chief ofstaff.

Brennan has worked with all three appointees over the years.

"They are all very experienced, it's certainly not anold-boy network," the former intelligence official said.